Washing-machine.



No. 636,945. Patesnid Nov. |4,|a99.

J. A. BERGMAN.

WASHING MII'IINE.v

(Applimion med oct. 2e, 189s.)

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Patented 1m/.14, |899.

ung. 636,945.

.1. A. BERGMAN. WASHING MACHINE.

Application led Oct. 26, 1898.) (No Model.)

2` SheetsSheet 2.

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VUNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. BERGMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,945, dated November .14, 1899. Application filed Uctoher 26, 1898. Serial No. 694.602. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. BERGMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of laundry washing-machines in which a cylindrical brush is used in connection with a rubbingboard and is adapted tobe operated either by hand, by a foot-lever, or by means of a springmotor, or may be readily arranged to be operated by steam. While cylindrical brushes have heretofore been usedY in washing-machines wherein the brush rotates in a cylindrical chamber in the water, this improvement contemplates a feeding-chamber in which the water-line is beneath the outer shell or brush and does not come in contact with it. The cylinder carrying the brush also is adapted to feed the water necessary for laundering as thebrush is applied and while the clothing is held by the operator on the feeding-board, so that the clothing may be shifted about in order that the brush may be placed in contact with any part, and when the clothing passes from the hand of the operator it passes downward to the rubbing-board and thence into the lower end ofthe water-chamber, thus combining the action of the brush and the rubbingboard in such a manner as to do the least damage to the goods to be laundered.

The objects sought are to secure efficiency with the least possible damage or wear to the fabric exposed to themachine.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 isv a side elevation of the machine with a portion of the tub removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the cylinder carrying the brush on its periphery. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the same on line 4 4, Fig. 3, showing thedischarge-valves.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In a triangular frame 1 1 I erect a tub 2, rather trapezoidal in form, tilted at an angle of about thirty degrees. On the upper portion of the frame is mounted a cylindrical shell 3 to provide a cover for the cylinder 4,

having an open space in front and a hinge 5 at a point above the center at the rear, so that a segment of the shell 3 may be raised for any purpose it may be required. The shell 3 also provides bearings 6 6 for the shaft of the cylinder 4. The cylinder 4 carries on its periphery the brush 7. The cylinder 4 is also provided with series or'rows of perforations which are covered by valves 8, having corresponding perforations 8. Each of these valves has a projecting trip-rod, with the end 9 turned, which, striking against the pitman 17, connecting with the crank 10 on end of shaft of the cylinder, causes the valve to slide back to bring the perforations 8 Sin line with the perforations in the cylinder. The sprial spring 11 at the opposite end automatically returns the valves and closes the outlets.

At 12 is placed an inlet protected on the inside by a spring-actuated'valve, thus providing means for introducing Water into the cylinder, which is'then discharged automatically through the perforations S 8 when the brush is in motion directly upon the wash on the feeding-board below. A sprocket-wheel 13 is rigidly keyed on one end of the shaft 14 of the cylinder and engages with a sprocketchain 16, which 'connects the sprocket-Wheel 13 with a larger similar wheel 15 on the shaft 23 of the druml 24, which has its bearings in the base of the frame 1. The shaft 14 has a crank 10 ateach end. These cranks are connected with the corrugated rubbing-board 18 by the pitmen 17. The rubbing-board 18 is thrust against its opposing board 19 by the spiral springs 20 and 20'. The opposing rubbing-board 19 is also corrugated and coperates with the board 18. The rubbing-board 19 is inline with the feeding-board 19' of the machine and is mounted on a foot in the tub and attached to the feeding-board at the joint 21. A'spring 22 permits the end of the feeding-board in front of the operator to be slightly raised or depressed to regulate the force of contact of the fabric with the brush.

On the shaft 23 is a drum 24, which contains a spring-motor 25. This motor is a strong spiral spring having one end secured to theshell of the drum and the other end to the shaft 23. A ratchet-wheel at 'the end of the drum checks the recoil when it is wound up. I make no claim here for any special con- IOO struction of the motor, nor do Ilimit my invention to the motor here described. Any other construction that will serve the purpose may be used.

A brake 26 is suspended by an arm 27 from a central part of the frame l, and by means of the spiral spring 2S at the opposite end of the lever it holds the shoe of the brake in engagement with the flange 29, carried on the inner side of the sprocket-wheel 15. The end of the lever 30 of the brake extends slightly beyond the frame l of the machine to enable the operator by a pressure of the foot to release the brake to set the machine in motion. O11 the opposite side of the machine is a large spur-gear 3l, having a bearing 31 in the side of the frame l and carries rigidly a ratchetwheel 32, which is provided With a crankhandle 33. The large spur-gear 31 is adapted to engage with a smaller spur-gear 34 on the shaft 23, by means of which the spring-motor may be wound up. The spur-gear 34 is movable on the shaft 23 by means of an adjustable collar 35, by which the gear may be moved out of engagement when the motor is Wound up. The large spur-gearis also adapted to engage with the pinion 36 on the shaft 14 of the cylinder. The pinion 3G is also provided with a movable collar, by means of which it may be moved on the shaft out of engagement when desired, the object being to enable the operator to rup the machine by hand by means of the crank-handle 33 should the occasion require it. The machine is also provided with a treadle 37,Whieh,bein g hinged on the opposite side of the frame and provided with the ratchet-hook 3S and reciprocating pawl 39, which engage with the ratchet-Wheel 32, enables the operator, if so disposed, to operate the machine by footpower, the ratchet-hook 3S and reciprocating pawl 39 being assisted in their engagement by means of the spiral springs 40 and 41. The upward movement'of the foot-lever is eected by means of the spiral springs 42, suspended from a cross-piece of the frame 1.

It will be noted that in the operation of the machine by either method of motive power, the wash being placed on the feeding-board 19 it will be :brought in contact with the revolving brush, which discharges the Water where it is needed as it brushes and cleanses the Wash, and any soiled spots may receive the action of the brush more or less vigorously, as maybe required, and the Wash may be manipulated from side to side and turned until every port-ion of it has been brushed before allowingit to pass to the rubbing-board beneath, Where the cleaning process is continued and from which it is discharged into the opposite side of the tub.

W'hen desired, a ringer 43, provided with a sprocket-Wheel 44, may be attached to the frame of the machine in proximity to the sprocket-chain 16 and placed in engagement with it.

Having thus described my inVentiOmWhat I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a Washingmachine, a supportingfra me,a cylinder mounted in bearings thereon and provided with an inlet and several series of outlets controlled by automatically-actuated valves, a brush on the periphery of said cylinder adapted to be placed in contact with the fabric, a feeding-board beneath said cylinder, the cylinder adapted to contain Water and automatically discharge the same in the process of Washing.

2. In a Washing-machine, a cylinder mounted in bearings upon a frame, a shaft in said cylinder, a crankon each end of said shaft, pitmen on said cranks, a brush on the periphery of said cylinder, a cylindrical shell mounted on the top of said frame adapted to partially inclose the brush and provided with a hinge, an inlet-valve in said cylinder and several series of outlets controlled by automaticallyactuated valves, the former to let Water into said cylinder, the latter adapted to discharge the same upon the Wash beneath during the operation of the machine, coperating rubbin g-boards beneath said cylinder, one mounted stationary in the tub, the other adapted to be operated by the pitrnen connecting it with the shaft of the cylinder.

3. In a Washing machine a supportingframe, a cylinder provided with a brush on its periphery mounted on said frame, a shaft for said cylinder provided With a crank at each end, a pitman on each crank, several series of perforations in said cylinder, a Valve covering each series of said perforations, a projecting trip-rod on the end of each valve adapted to engage with one of the pitmen on the cranks of the cylinder-shaft, a counteracting spring attached to each valve, said cylinder being adapted to contain Water and discharge the same automatically as the brush comes in contact with the Wash beneath it.

4. In a Washing machine, a supportingframe, a cylinder provided with a brush on its periphery and having a shaft provided with cranks mounted on said frame, a cylindrical shell on said frame partially inclosing said cylinder and provided with a hinge, a tub beneath said cylinder, a sprocket-Wheel on the cylinder-shaft, pitmen connected with the cranks on said shaft, a reciprocating rubbing-board suspended below the cylinder and connected with said pitmen, a stationary rubbing-board mounted on a foot in the tub, a feeding-board connected With the stationary rubbing-board and in line therewith, the rubbing boards adapted to be partially submerged in said tub, the brush and reciprocating rubbing-board actuated by means of a motor in a drum at the base of the frame and sprocket-chain connecting a sprocket-Wheel on the drum-shaft with a sprocket-Wheel on the cylinder-shaft.

5. In a washing-machine,the combination of a cylindrical brush mounted in bearings on a frame and having a shaft, with coperating IIO rubbing-boards beneath the brush, one rubdrum; a ange on the sproeket-whee1 of the blug-board stationary in the tub, the other drum-Shaft, a brake adapted to engage with actuated by pitrnen on cranks in the cylinthe flange on said sprocket-wheel provided der-shaft, a feeding-board being attached to with a spring and adapted to be released by r 5 5 and in line with the stationary rubbing-board' foot-pressure. i

and adapted to regulate the force of Contact Chicago, Illinois, October 22, 1898.

of the wash with the brush, a sprocket-Wheel rigid on the shaft of the brush engaging with JOHN A' BERGMAN' a sprocket-chain and larger sprocket-Wheel Witnesses: A Io on the shaft of a drum, mounted in bearings H. C. HUNSBERGER,

at the base of the frame; a motor in said D. J. GILLESPIE. 

